Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Steel Lion Knights
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Steel Lion Knights.
The kingdom's most elite order, affiliated with the royal family of Justina.
A group composed of warriors whose minds and bodies are both tough enough to move for the royal family and die for it.
Knights are typically treated as human weapons.
The difference between those who can wield aura and those who cannot is clear-cut.
Even mages, who sometimes research magic and mana for war and battle,
have those who pursue a better world and life, so despite being granted the value of legends, there are occasionally mages who show weakness in combat.
However, knights are different from mages.
They train solely to protect and to kill.
Using murderous mana and the like as fuel, the sight of a knight smashing enemies was akin to that of a demon.
The existence of a knight was proof of strength and an outstanding weapon.
Every member of the Steel Lion Knights was hero-grade or higher.
It was exceedingly rare to be treated as a hero solely for the skill of killing and saving lives.
The captain of the Steel Lion Knights, Oscar Leonhardt, gazed at the barrier with a troubled expression.
The Steel Lion Knights were currently in the Lion's Marsh.
Along with mages dispatched from the Red Magic Tower.
He asked the mages,
"Still no progress on deciphering the magic formula?"
The mages bowed their heads deeply.
As if ashamed, they barely managed to speak.
"Yes…."
"We're sorry. It's a formula of such difficulty that we simply can't unravel it with our skills…."
Dark circles shadowed the mages' eyes.
They had given their all for a fortnight.
Perhaps even more than the knights battling the undead revived by the ancient relic, the Necronomicon.
"I see."
Oscar did not rebuke the mages; instead, he patted their shoulders in encouragement.
"Those who have done their best deserve praise, not blame. You've worked hard. Now go rest."
The mages bit their lips and bowed their heads.
Only after the mages had left did Oscar let out a deep sigh, as if the ground might cave in.
'Should we retreat?'
Supplies were running low.
It had taken about two months to reach the Lion's Marsh, guarded by the demonkin.
If the knight order vacated the area,
the demonkin would pitch camp here again.
In the worst case, the Necronomicon would fall into the demonkin's hands.
'If I'd known it would come to this… I should have prepared more thoroughly.'
Regret was pointless now; it was too late.
It was time to choose.
Retreat, or hold out a little longer.
"Captain."
Squad member Craig Raymond approached with his squire.
"What is it?"
"A raven has arrived from the Blue Magic Tower and the Red Magic Tower."
"Is that true!?"
Color returned to Oscar's face.
To resolve the current situation, he had sent letters to mages he was acquainted with at the magic towers.
The letters detailed the magic formula troubling them and requested a solution.
He hoped the replies contained the key to breaking the barrier.
"……."
Oscar read the letter from Craig and simply burned it.
There was a reason the accompanying mages were struggling.
Even experts found finding the answer no easy task.
Under the gloomy sky, the knight made his decision.
"We withdraw."
"Pardon?"
"Supplies are nearly gone. Any further resistance is pointless."
"B-But…."
Craig soon acquiesced to the captain's words, which prioritized the long term.
"Understood. I'll inform the squad."
"Please do."
Oscar glared at the Necronomicon floating atop a shabby altar beyond the barrier.
He prayed his choice would not harm the kingdom.
It was then, lost in thought,
"Captain!"
Craig rushed over urgently.
"Hm?"
"A courier has arrived!"
Not a magic raven, but a courier?
The Lion's Marsh was filled with deadly poison.
Without special artifacts like those worn by the mages who had ventured here, or the training of a knight, an ordinary human would sicken and die.
"Who is it?"
"Th-That maid who serves Ester Tristy…."
Ester Tristy.
The young genius who had stirred the magic world by solving the Millennium Problem.
Oscar had sent him a letter as well.
However, Oscar and Ester had no personal connection.
Genuses were often eccentric, and a young lord with no obligations had no duty to reply, so he hadn't expected much.
"Take me there at once."
"Yes."
Oscar hurried after Craig.
Before them, at an ancient tree, stood a woman who bowed politely.
"Hello. I am Dalpi, the maid serving Young Master Ester. I have brought his reply."
A seal proving her service to House Tristy adorned her chest.
'A normal maid coming to the Lion's Marsh without any gear?'
Oscar let out a low hum.
He had questions for the maid, but the letter came first.
"I am Oscar Leonhardt, captain of the Steel Lion Knights."
"Confirmed."
Dalpi handed over the letter from her bosom.
Oscar tore open the envelope and unfolded the contents immediately.
'This is it!'
It was filled with formulas beyond Oscar's understanding.
Unlike ordinary knights, Oscar possessed magical knowledge, but the paper held answers from a genius far surpassing his level.
Annotations were kindly added for even the uninitiated to comprehend.
"Please wait a moment."
Oscar rushed to the mages.
The mages' eyes widened upon receiving the letter.
"How in the world… to approach it like this?"
"Distorting the barrier's form with mana residues and gradually widening the cracks to destroy it from within…."
It was unbelievable even seeing it.
If there were a demon of magic, this would be its answer.
The mages forgot they were in the Lion's Marsh.
"What's truly astonishing about this formula is the optimization. It achieves maximum efficiency with minimal consumption!"
"How did they optimize it in such a short time?"
"The genius who solved the Millennium Problem is truly remarkable."
The mages' admiring reactions were clearly good news.
Color returned to Oscar's face.
Thus began meaningful cracks in the near-impenetrable magic barrier.
"Captain, it's worth trying!"
"Give us just one more day!"
"Very well."
Oscar headed to the knights.
He ordered those preparing to withdraw to stand by, then returned to Dalpi.
"Did the young master's letter prove helpful?"
Oscar bowed to Dalpi and said politely,
"Thanks to you, we finally have a way forward. 'Help' doesn't do it justice. You've brought us tremendous hope—truly grateful."
"Please convey your thanks to the young master."
"Once we've recovered the Necronomicon, may I visit personally?"
Dalpi nodded.
"Then I'll be off."
"Wait."
Oscar stopped Dalpi.
"I have one question…."
"What is it?"
"This marsh isn't a place even knights enter lightly. How did you come alone?"
The Lion's Marsh itself was fearsome, but the path here was even more perilous.
Countless monsters and unsolved magic traps lay in wait.
No ordinary maid could reach this place.
Dalpi scratched her cheek.
"For a servant of Ester Tristy, this is basic."
Oscar blinked.
A mere courier was this capable.
'How many talents does he have under him?'
He had thought him merely an exceptional genius.
But he also had an eye for talent and the charisma to draw them in.
Truly a fearsome man.
"I need to prepare the young master's dinner."
"……."
"I must hurry back now."
She glanced at the sky.
The sunset was fading.
Today, she planned to make Ester's favorite charbroiled steak, which required some prep.
"I know it takes at least three days from here to Tristy Manor…."
In that instant, Dalpi vanished like the wind.
It wasn't magic. It was speed born of explosive physical prowess.
Oscar blinked at movements no squire, not even ordinary knights, could match.
"Ha."
Even Ester Tristy's servants were no ordinary folk.
***
"Ha."
Dalpi's steak was so damn good, no other words came to mind.
It melted in the mouth with every bite.
"Yahheeho hheehho. (You're eating so obnoxiously.)"
"Swallow first then talk."
"Zneu pmeuneus geurg meurnid. (I'm just a commoner, I wouldn't know.)"
Dalpi looked blissfully happy too.
She loved food like I did, cheeks stuffed full as she chewed away.
Until now, as the family failure, I'd gotten far less allowance from Porto than my siblings.
But now, treatment was completely different.
Gulp.
"With the young master's food expenses rising, we can afford this often."
Even lavish meals like this multiple times caused no issue.
Money was king, modern world or fantasy.
Meals this abundant had been hard without birthdays.
"Dalpi."
"Yes."
"Let's eat lobster from now on."
Dalpi's eyes sparkled.
"I'll prepare it first thing tomorrow."
"From now on, let's devour every delicacy and turn into total pigs."
"The young master doesn't exercise, so maybe, but it's impossible for me."
Dalpi shrugged.
Hm, Dalpi's body was definitely gorgeous.
Even in the loose maid outfit, her chest stood out prominently.
Her lean, flawless figure always mesmerized like a fox's charm.
"Where are you leering?"
I slyly averted my gaze.
"You're at that age, after all."
Dalpi eyed me slyly.
"If you want, you can touch."
"Sip……."
I pondered seriously for about five seconds.
But it was clearly teasing a boy's heart.
Fearing the aftermath, I barely held back.
"Hmm, unexpected."
"Don't do that to other guys. You'll get hurt bad?"
Dalpi smiled playfully.
"I only do this in front of the young master, so rest easy."
Gah, this damn vixen!
"Eeeek!!!"
"W-Wait! Where are you touching…… H-Hyah! Kyaa!! Th-There…!!"
Afterward, I tickled Dalpi's sides mercilessly.